Braunwalder, Norbert- My wife and I were born and raised in California. We moved to the beautiful state of Tennessee in 1997. We attended school with each other since kindergarten but met our senior year in high school. We have been married for over 35 years. We have 5 children. All 4 of our daughters graduated from RTA. The older 2 graduated from MTSU. The younger 2 are still attending MTSU. Our son passed away in 2014 at the age of 13. We have homeschooled our children since 1995. In 2009, after 25 years as a diesel mechanic, I retired and my wife switched places with me. She became the bread winner and I became a homeschooling dad. I started tutoring at RTA in 2015. I tutored Physical Science and Auto & Home Maintenance. I quit tutoring in 2022 when my youngest daughter graduated. I am a DIY’er(Do It Yourselfer). I will try anything myself before I pay someone to do it for me. I raise our own beef and pork, we have chickens for eggs and I am a beekeeper. I enjoy gardening and I still do car repair when time permits. I am a hands-on kind of guy and like to work with my hands. I enjoy showing students that working with your hands can be fun and rewarding. I am the Scout Master for BSA Troop 538 at St. Rose Catholic Church. I enjoy the outdoors. I like to camp, backpack, ski, and paddle the local streams and lakes.
Ever since I can remember, if you asked me what I wanted to be, I would tell you an artist! I've been drawing since I was born, and the love of art that God placed in me has remained to this day. I am a full-time mommy of three (Levi (7), Jude (5), Eliza (3)) and an all-times-in-between artist. I graduated from MTSU with my B.S. in Animation and minor in Fine Art in 2010. While my place has been in the home with my children, I became an accidental entrepreneur, selling my art online and in some local shops as a way to use my art everyday. I also have taught drawing in the past at Norris Hall Studio and Cedar Hall School. The Lord has opened my eyes to the beautiful connection between Him, the original artist, and my passion and desire to use my art to glorify Him. I love reading, leading my women's Bible study, singing Disney karaoke, and having deep theological and literary discussions. My desire is to have a community surrounding the arts that points back to our Creator and encourages students to use the gifts that God has given them for His purposes..
I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. I moved to Central Florida, where I resided until 2005 when God called me to the Middle TN area. My education includes a BA from Warner Southern College with a minor in Bible and a master's degree from Grand Canyon University. To sharpen my public speaking skills while serving in the women's ministry of Toastmasters International in 2008. There, I served as Vice President of Public Relations for two years. Later, I served as Area 41 Governor for Toastmasters, mentoring and supervising eight clubs. I completed both the Advanced Leader and the Advanced Communicator awards. On a personal note, I enjoy spending time with my husband, adult children, and grandchildren on our homestead, "Intentional Living." My passion is encouraging and motivating people to walk in their calling with passion and purpose.
After resigning from 15 years in the insurance industry, I founded Moving Forward Ministries 501c3 and the "Be Godfident Movement," a multigeneration ministry to help others reach their full potential. Due to my passion for healthy relationships, I am a Seminar Director for Prepare Enrich, doing premarital and marital coaching. I love Mondays! I get to inspire today's youth to be great Public Speaking and Leadership leaders at RTA.
God moved me from Kentucky to Murfreesboro in 2001 when I joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ to work with college students at Middle Tennessee State University. My husband David is a native of New Mexico and works as a data analyst for Tractor Supply Company. We married in 2018 and have a miracle baby, Everett. He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, lived 2 weeks on earth in 2019, and is now with Jesus waiting for us. I graduated with Bachelor of Art degrees in Graphic Design and Religious Studies from Western Kentucky University and have a Master of Art degree in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary. I have served in full-time vocational Christian ministry from 2001 to 2018: first, with Cru in the US and in Sweden, and most recently, as a women’s pastor in my local church. While working for my church, I also served as Director of Creative Communications which not only allowed me to use my graphic design background, but also allowed me to stay on top of the current technology needs. Over the years, I have continued to work as a freelance graphic artist developing logos, branding strategies, websites and dabbling in photography. I discovered my love for teaching while a senior in high school tutoring French I students. From there, I have had many opportunities to teach in a variety of ministry settings from small groups around my kitchen table to speaking engagements at large conferences. My favorite is still the small group environment where I can see the “ah-ha” moments up close and cheer my students on as they pursue growing into the best version of themselves. As a farm girl, I enjoy outdoor adventures, such as traveling, kayaking, hiking and fishing. And inline with my artistic side, I love to sew, garden and cook. I am excited to be at RTA teaching Computer Applications and Web Design.
Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia I always liked playing “school” with my imaginary students. Later, I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Management Information Systems. Upon graduating, I worked for IBM in Maryland as a computer programmer and then I later transitioned to a systems engineering position in North Carolina. My husband and I have lived in Murfreesboro since 2000. We have four adult children, two of them born in Russia. I homeschooled for six years and enjoyed every year of it! I have traveled to all 50 states and have visited 58 countries. New Zealand and Israel were my favorite countries to explore. In my spare time, I love reading and playing Pickleball. I look forward to sharing my passion for exploring God’s world and studying its various cultures with your student.
I was born and raised in upper East Tennessee and thus am bilingual. My first language was Appalachian, and the second acquired language was English. I’m still working on that second one. I broke my father’s heart by attending East Tennessee State University (not the University of Tennessee!!!) and then, even worse, I also attended Middle Tennessee State University. My blood does not run orange and I do not make an annual pilgrimage to Knoxville. As a child I loved to read. As an adult I love to read! I got into lots of trouble in elementary school for always having a library book inside whatever textbook we were working in at the time. While in college I was able to participate in a couple of unique learning experiences that really challenged my assumptions about education. Then in the fall of 1978, my pastor started talking about homeschooling his little girl. I’d never heard of homeschooling so I started reading about it and doing some research. I moved to Nashville to take an internship with the Tennessee General Assembly, fell in love, and became a flat-lander (middle Tennessean). David and I married in 1979 and we have 3 children. We discussed the idea of home education while we were still dating and started planning to home school our own children before they were even born. We finished 19 years of home schooling in June of 2007 when our youngest child graduated from high school. Home education was an incredibly positive experience for our family! I was a home school junkie for those 19 years, volunteering in our local support group as well as serving on the MTHEA Board for 13 years. You name it, we’ve probably done it or coordinated it or spoken at it. All three of my children are college graduates, two have their master’s, my son is an officer in the Army, and all three have jobs that they are passionate about. I agree with Michael Farris who said that God is using ordinary people to produce extraordinary results. I started tutoring at RTA in 2002 and absolutely love it! Your children are amazing and I feel so privileged to get to spend a little time with them. I am passionate about education, home schooling, family life, reading good books, and reading more good books. “The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” Mark Twain
I grew up in Northern Ohio (think 30 minutes from Lake Erie north) in a small town called Medina. I came to Murfreesboro to attend MTSU long before St. Thomas was on Medical Center. I double majored in English and Video Production with a minor in Writing. My English major encouraged my fascination with story and the power of the written word. While attending college I was heavily involved with the campus ministry Cru, formally Campus Crusade for Christ. Within Cru I learned what discipleship was, how to walk with God consistently and how important a strong Christian community is. I met my husband, Joe, through Cru. We were married in 2014 after we both spent 2 years working for Cru. Working with Cru on MTSU’s campus allowed me to learn about myself and cultivate intentional relationships with others. Since then, I have been passionate about coming alongside students and coaching them towards their goals. I’ve had the privilege of doing so as a youth group small group leader, as an admissions counselor at MTSU and most recently as an academic advisor at MTSU. While working at MTSU I was able to get my master’s degree in education with a focus in Administration and Supervision. I am so excited to be a part of RTA this year and to meld my passion for helping students and writing together. My husband and I have three kids, Abby Rose (6), Baker (3), and Tucker (8 months). In my brief pockets of free time, you can find me reading, knitting, and hanging out with my kids.
I received a BA in English Literature from the University of Louisville and an M-Div in Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I started the organization, Entrusting the Faith, which seeks to help families equip the next generation with a biblical worldview. Along with it, I wrote the book, "Leading Well at Home: How Husbands and Fathers Can Biblically Lead Their Families." I work full-time in marketing as well as podcast consulting on the side. I have another book coming out in 2024 on podcast preparation.
I am married to my best friend, Rachel. We have three children--Kate, Jill, and Caleb--who are all at RTA. Apart from hanging out with my family (which is one of my favorite activities) I read anything and everything, from Agatha Christie to psychology to marketing books. I enjoy movies with witty dialogue. I also accidentally became a runner a couple of years ago (weird, I know).
My heart is in teaching and equipping families.
I attended the University of Evansville (Indiana) where I like to say I majored in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Math minor. I had the privilege of working for an internet service provider when the internet was brand new. You actually had to use a phone line to “connect”. (Ask your parents what a phone line is.) My department created the first online banking website…and I remember when most people thought Amazon would never succeed.
The most amazing man asked me to marry him in 1999. Eric and I have three children – Kate, Jill and Caleb. These are my four favorite people in the whole world…which is saying something because I know a lot of amazing people…like the other RTA tutors!
I have always loved math – and I even love people who do NOT love math!
I enjoy helping students learn and grow. I am learning to love failure – because that is how we learn. That doesn’t mean I want students to fail my class – rather I want to encourage them to be willing to fail as they learn new math skills…and learn from those mistakes. Mistakes are an opportunity to grow!
I do not believe math is a neutral subject. Just like science is an exploration of God’s creativity,
“Math helps us see the incredible wisdom and care displayed throughout creatin – an order, wisdom and care that is there because we have a wise and caring Creator! We can rely on math because we can rely on God. Math is complex and complicated because God created a complex universe… Math applies universally because God’s rule is universal.” – Katherine A. Loop
I am looking forward to guiding your student as they explore how math works and how it reflects the steadfast, creative, powerful character of God.
I was born and raised in Southern California, and moved to Murfreesboro, TN in the summer of
2022 with my parents and younger brother. As a former homeschooler myself, I am excited to
be back in a familiar environment teaching what I love! Having the God-given ability to learn a
new language is so incredible, and I can’t wait to explore this ability with students. A little
background about my American Sign Language/interpreting education...I took my first ASL class
in my freshman year of high school through my homeschool group, and immediately fell in love
with the language and culture. I continued to take ASL classes in high school, and went on to
attend Mt. San Antonio College as a student in their Interpreter Training Program. Throughout
my time there, I took a variety of classes learning about different linguistic and historical
aspects of ASL, Deaf culture, and language acquisition. I also completed five levels of
interpreting classes, as well as several electives. My all-time favorite aspect of my education
was the volunteer interpreting work I did during my final semester. It was such a blast
(also terrifying, but mostly a blast) to take everything I had learned the past seven years and
actually use it in the real world, while also giving back to the deaf community. I graduated in
June 2022 with an Associate in Science, Sign Language/Interpreting and an Associate in Arts in
Liberal Arts and Sciences, Language Arts Emphasis. In my free time, I can be found curled up
with a captivating book, drinking mass amounts of coffee, listening to some solid worship
music, spending time with family, and exploring Middle Tennessee. I’m looking forward to my
time here at RTA, and to being a part of your student’s education.
I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. In 1998, I graduated from the National University of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. The following year, I moved to Bakersfield, California for six months to study English. A few months later, I moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and was accepted to Middle Tennessee State University where I earned a Master's degree in Engineering Technology. While at MTSU, I had the opportunity to work as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and as a tutor for the Disability Center and Math Lab. A few years later, the Lord decided to change my life and sent my husband Mike. We have been married for 12 years and have two amazing kids, Landon and Evie. I love running and reading books with my children. It is an honor to be part of the RTA family.
I grew up in Merrillville, Indiana, just outside of Chicago and graduated from Indiana University. After completing my Bachelor of Science in Marketing at Indiana University, I married my college sweetheart. Despite our families being deeply rooted in Indiana, we embarked on a different journey. My husband's career as a pilot in the Marine Corps took us from Cincinnati to Pensacola, and eventually to southern California. As he transitioned into a new profession, we returned to Indiana before settling in Tennessee.
I first became involved with RTA in the fall of 2009 as a parent, then as a tutor in 2012, and eventually joined the board in 2014. My children are all grown now, but It is evident that I am a strong advocate for the invaluable resources this community provides to homeschoolers in our area. The dedicated group of tutors and leaders at RTA played a crucial role in guiding my daughters through their college journeys. Engaging with our RTA students in the classroom is a true delight. Witnessing their understanding of new mathematical concepts or hearing them express how they have benefited from the study skills we teach is incredibly rewarding. Your children are not only intelligent, but also vibrant and exceptional individuals.
Throughout our somewhat nomadic life, the Lord has showered us with immense love. He blessed us with three remarkable children, each born in a different state, and guided us to discover strong churches, close-knit communities, and lifelong friendships in every place we settled. His grace has allowed us to experience a love we never could have fathomed through our three grandsons, bringing us utter joy.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, I automatically inherited an ear for good music, outstanding food, and loud fun. (Eating crawfish properly is a skill!) My parents raised my brother and I to know the Lord and live that out through whatever gifts and talents He gave us. With my dad being a percussionist and vocally trained, and my mother, an artist who taught painting classes and basket weaving most of my life, I was heavily influenced by the arts. Early on, I began learning piano, dabbled with the violin and viola, and sang in choirs at school and church. We moved to Hobbs, New Mexico during my seventh-grade year and I continued my involvement in all things music. After receiving my Associate of Arts degree at New Mexico Junior College, I moved to Tennessee and attended MTSU. During this time, I got married, had our first child and continued teaching piano lessons out of my home. I have three children of whom I’ve been privileged to homeschool throughout their academic years. I am grateful for this season of life though it is too quickly coming to an end. I joined RTA as the Study Hall tutor in 2022 and man has it been fun! I’m thankful for RTA and how this precious Tutorial has invested in our kids’ lives academically and spiritually. I’m so honored to be a part of the RTA family!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in work or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:16-17
I am a Tennessee native married to an army kid who pretty much lived all over the place. My husband, Victor, and I have been married since '99 and have three amazing kids: Natalie, Grant & Violet. We are Smyrna residents and truly enjoy the sense of community here. I attended MTSU many moons ago, majoring in English and minoring in both writing and secondary education. Literature and writing are among many things dear to my heart, and I am also a bit of a grammar nerd. I love words, I love books, and I enjoy the history and purpose behind them. I am excited to be returning to RTA again this year to share this love with your students. It is exciting to be a part of such a wonderful group of people. In my spare time, you can find me drinking good coffee, reading, and spending time with my family.
I was born and raised in the Nashville area, and have lived in Smyrna, TN, for the majority of my life. I graduated from MTSU, with my B.S. in Visual Arts. I have always been creative at heart and found my area of strength to be in the arts—in studio and digital art, as well as in music. I was able to gain a lot of diverse artistic experience from taking studio courses throughout college, such as digital photography, graphic design technologies, drawing, painting, and 2-D and 3-D art. My desire is to take what I have learned from the art field in college and share it with middle and high school students from a Christian perspective. I also want to show students that there is a place for creative and artistic talent in the real world after schooling. I have taught at RTA for 2 years now and am actually a former RTA alum; I am excited to have had the opportunity to return and teach a creative-based class. In my spare time, you can find me enjoying coffee, studying and producing original artwork, spending quality time with family and friends, and cozying up with a good book when I get the chance.
As a child, I loved going to the house of my grandparents in Hardeman County, TN. It was a place that seemed to have been untouched by the progress of time since the 1950s. I was fascinated by the old buildings, old cars, and old tools I found there. I observed the old traditional ways of doing things that my grandparents had. I overheard them retelling stories about people and events from long ago. It may not have been their intention, but they taught me how the people and events of our past have shaped our present and our future. From them I received a lifelong love for history and a passion for sharing history with others. I hope to instill that same passion in my students.
I am married to Lacey Wilkins, Executive Director of Stepping Stones. We have been married for over twenty years and have two awesome children: Abby (known as "Abbitha" by her fellow RTA friends) and AJ (future engineer, paleontologist, and missionary to India). I have been a small group teacher of middle-school and high-school students for seven years and counting. Since August 2023, I have been pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.